Michael Goforth: Wherefore art thou, Rubio?

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio talks with the media before the start of the St. Lucie County Republican Party's annual Lincoln Day Dinner May 1 at the Polish American Club in Port St. Lucie. Rubio was the keynote speaker at the event.

A few months ago, after I wrote a column criticizing U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio for his lack of involvement is addressing the pollution crisis impacting our Indian River Lagoon, a reader responded, saying, in part, “You just can’t resist the chance to take a cheap shot at a great politician like Marco Rubio. Keep your uncalled-for political prejudices to yourself. We don’t want to hear them.”

Well, here are some more “cheap shots” at that “great politician.”

Marco Rubio is someone I would like to like. His youthful good looks, his compelling history as a Cuban-American living the American dream, his charisma and his passion set him apart from run-of-the-mill political leaders. While I may not agree with his very conservative stances on most issues, he is someone who could be admired even by his opponents.

But, where I have a problem with Rubio is not so much his political positions but his focus on scoring political points in the national arena while ignoring the very real concerns of his constituents.

Rubio has failed to join fellow Republicans and Democrats in speaking out on such issues as the lagoon and, more recently, on the proposed All Aboard Florida passenger rail service.

The lagoon and the high-speed rail project are of major concern along Florida’s East Coast, but the junior U.S. senator has been sitting on the sidelines and for months has been keeping mum about both.

But, he has managed to get before the TV cameras and talk about national and international issues to build on a foundation for a possible run for president. Issues specifically related to Florida don’t seem to be on his radar.

Since arriving in Washington, and even before, Rubio has been described as a “rising star” within the Republican Party and in the national political constellation as a whole. In March, though, a Huffington Post column described him not as a “rising star,” but as a “sinking meteorite” for failing to support policies to help his fellow Cuban-Americans in the Miami community.

More recently, polls have shown sinking affection for a Rubio run for president.

A Quinnipiac University poll in Florida found Rubio trailing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in a possible run against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She had a lead of 49 percent to 41 percent against Bush in the Sunshine State and a 52 percent to 40 percent lead against Rubio.

Even more interesting, among Republicans surveyed in the Florida poll, Rubio placed third among potential Republican candidates, trailing Bush and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.